Denise has been involved in General Aviation since 1988. She began flying and working on aircraft while enjoying previous careers in music education and telecommunication management. Today she holds a FAA A&P license, Light-Sport Repairman-Airplane, Commercial Pilot, with Instrument license for single and multi-engine aircraft, and a single engine seaplane rating. She owns and maintains a 1979 Grumman Tiger and occupies her spare time working on experimental aircraft construction.
As an avid Air Racer, Denise completed an Around the World Flight (2001) while competing in the London, England to Sydney, Australia Air Race and the Air Race Classic. She’s the Chief Pilot and Lead Mechanic for the “Ride the Sun” Team and has placed first in the 1999 and 2000 Air Race Classics, taken honors in the U.S. Air Race and the Around New Zealand Air Race (2004) and other races, often finishing in the top.